Sigh… I thought we lived in the age of Google. Try searching for “patent process.” If you can’t (due to a filter), just say the word and someone will (probably) copy and paste the necessary information.

I don’t know anything at all about this but I know I’ve heard ads on the radio thousands of times for “freeinventorskit”. If you’ve never heard of it, maybe it’s worth checking out (just make sure that you’re not required to sign too much away for the sake of the free boost start).

i was planning on selling the idea to a company (its a game and i wanted to sell it to hasbro)

None of the big toy companies will even consider looking at your idea. The last thing they want is to get sued because a product they make has similarities to an idea they once saw. Once you have a real product you can try selling it to them.

The mailing it to yourself works for copyright, not patent. For patent you need to file with the Patent Office, which then has to agree it is indeed an invention. This gets tricky which is why one tends to use professionals to help.

You are allowed to represent yourself before the patent office. However, it is complicated and you probably won’t get anywhere. If you really don’t have money, the USPTO has a pro bono program (Google USPTO and pro bono). You have to meet various requirements (i.e. income has to be below a certain limit, you have to have some knowledge of the patent system which you could learn, and you actually have to have an invention).

If you don’t qualify for pro bono assistance, you may have some luck with the USPTO pro se assistance program (Google USPTO and pro se).

If that doesn’t work, read up on patent law from the internet. I would not represent myself without being informed.

If you have some money to spend, try to get a patent agent. Since they do not have a law degree, they usually are cheaper.

Most patent firms charge about $3,000 just to do a patent search to make sure your idea is both patentable and not already filed. It costs AT LEAST an additional $20,000 to file a patent, and until your idea is at least patent pending, companies are not interested, and even when you obtain a patent, it’s not so easy to get a company’s attention. Everyone with some level of ingenuity at one time in their life figures they have a million dollar idea. Best thing is to get a normal sustainable job, and don’t waste your money until you can afford to. good luck.